Monthly Archives: September 2011
24 Hours of Reality
| September 13, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
This couldn’t come at a better time, with the wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma, floods on the east coast, tornadoes, the hurricane, the droughts and other natural disasters that have happened just in the last couple of months. I have been feeling the effects lately with everything at our home dying, including some of our trees. We also had a fire warning in my town today and there were fires not to far away. This summer has broken a lot of records in Oklahoma and it’s pretty scary.
I hope everyone will join in and help spread the word. You can donate your Twitter and Facebook for the event. Find more information on the Climate Reality website. Will you be taking part in this event?
Watch live (Sept 14th- Sept 15th)
The Health Impacts of 9/11
| September 11, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Human Rights, Toxins |
Something many don’t seem to want to talk about is the impact 9/11 and the following wars have had on the health of so many. First responders and others that worked down at the World Trade Center site have become very ill, and some of the blame can be put on our government.
“On September 18th Christine Todd Whitman, the EPA administrator at the time, assured the people of NYC and Washington D.C. that the air was safe to breath.
Sadly this wasn’t the case.The EPA’s own report says they did not have sufficient data to make this statement. When they made the statement they were missing air monitoring data for pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Tests also showed asbestos levels 200 to 300 percent above those considered to be safe by the EPA.
More resent studies have shown that nearly 70% works that responded to the attacks at the World Trade Center have/are suffering lung problems and lung “abnormalities.”- read more
Thankfully, earlier this year President Obama signed into law the James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. Both survivors and rescue and recovery works can receive the services. The program will provide screening and medical treatment for 9/11 related health issues.
“Currently, these conditions include aerodigestive disorders, such as chronic cough, asthma, sinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and other health problems, such as lower back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. See the NIOSH web site for a complete list of 9/11-related conditions.” - read more
Sadly these are not the only health concerns 9/11 has caused. The following wars have caused many illnesses as well. It’s estimated that 1 in 8 returning soldiers suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD carries a stigma for some and many don’t seek the help they need. PTSD is a serious health concern and greatly impacts the person’s life. Treating the mental health of our returning troops needs to be as important as treating their wounds.
There are also reports of soldiers from Iraq having breathing problems. At this time the cause is unknown but many believe it’s being caused by a toxin.
“The theory is this is caused by the inhalation of a toxic substance in people who have not been exposed to it before, Light said. However, he noted that the damage seems to be minor. These same problems were seen during the first Gulf War, he added.” - read more
As we remember 9/11, we must remember those still suffering from the health effects as well. It also serves as a reminder of what toxins can do our bodies, both in day-to-day life and during disasters. We also must be as diligent in making sure what happened at the WTC to all of the rescue and recovery people never happens again, as we are in making sure attacks like 9/11 don’t happen again.
Photo credit: USACEpublicaffairs
Natural Savings: Food
| September 7, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Living, Saving Money |
Couponing is becoming very popular thanks to shows like TLC’s Extreme Couponing and the down economy. I think all of us want to save some money. But if you look at the products in stockpiles, like the one in the video above, you don’t see a lot of organic, real food and natural products. So is it possible to eat healthy food and save money? Yes, you aren’t likely to end up with a stockpile like the one above but you can reduce your food budget. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Meal plan. The average American family throws away 14% of their groceries away. Meal planning can help keep you from wasting food and save you money. There are many ways to meal plan. I plan a months worth of meals but I don’t pick what day we will have the meals. Some people plan a week at a time, some plan what days they will have each meal, it’s all about what works for you.
- Get creative with leftovers. This still is talking about reducing waste. Leftovers can often be made into new meals. I like to take leftover mashed potatoes and make either potato soup or even just add some seasoning and put cheese on the top for a new side dish. Leftover veggies are great for soups, leftover meat can be put in pasta, casseroles, etc.. The ideas are endless.
- Eat less meat. Meat is expensive, even more so when you start talking about organic, grass-fed, and so on. Eating less of it will help your food budget and your health. Try out Meatless Monday and also try to use meat for flavor and not as the main part of the meal. Around here we rarely eat a piece of meat as a main dish but instead I put a small amount of meat in something else, like pasta, on rice, with veggies, and so on.
- Look for sales. If you have the room, stock up on foods your family eats a lot when they go on sale. Just be sure not to buy more than you will use before it goes bad. Also be flexible when possible, I often will switch a couple of items on my list if I find something is on sale.
- Grow your own. You don’t need land to grow food, you can even put a few pots on your porch and grow a few things. Every little bit you grow is food you don’t have to buy.
- Shop your local farmer’s market. Buying directly from the farmer can help cut costs. You may also find some farmers that grow their food organically but haven’t paid to be certified so they are a bit cheaper than certified organic foods.
- Use coupons*. While there aren’t a lot of organic coupons there are some, so when you find them and they are products you really will use, use them.
- Cook from scratch when possible. Cooking from scratch is almost always cheaper than buying pre-made food and it’s better for you. It can also be fun to learn to make new foods and you will likely find most of the time the food is much better.
- Eat less. Most of us overeat, reducing what we eat to a reasonable amount will help your food budget and waist line.
- Eat in season. Produce is cheaper when it’s in season. Freezing and canning produce can help you enjoy the foods year round.
These are just a few ways to save money on food without giving up quality. Please share your ideas in the comments below.
*Organic Coupons-
Saving Naturally
Organic Deals
End of Summer Green Bash
| September 6, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Twitter Party |
When: Sunday, September 25th at 8:00 p.m. eastern time
Where: On Twitter, we recommend you use TweetGrid to keep up with the party.
To learn about using TweetGrid for Twitter parties watch the video at the end of this post.
Hashtag: #greenbash
What is a Hashtag?
How to Join:
RSVP in the comments with your Twitter name. (You don’t have to RSVP to join in the fun but you can only win a prize if you RSVP)
Follow @Retrohousewife5 and our sponsors @Reuseit_store, @avbyelizabeth, @GreenChildMg, and @BerryPlusClean
Use the #greenbash Hashtag in your tweets.
Be on Twitter at on September 25th at 8 p.m. eastern time!
Sponsors:
Berry+
Alex & Von by Elizabeth
Green Child Magazine
Prizes:
Produce Bag & Saver Set
Gift Pack from Berry+
Remember to RSVP below to have a chance to win the prizes above! You also must be present at the party to win. While everyone is welcome to the party most of prizes can only be shipped to addresses in the US, Berry+ is able to be shipped to Canada.
How to Use Tweetgrid for a Twitter Party
Disclaimer: The prizes come from the sponsors and not from me. I was paid to host this party but all views stated by me (@retrohousewife5) are my honest views. The sponsors and Lisa Sharp are not responsible for the content at the Twitter party.
I’m Back, I Hope
| September 2, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
If you have been wondering what happened to me, I have been sick and busy. I was sick last week and have been getting caught up and getting over an asthma attack this week. Also on Thursday I set up and ran a booth for the local recycling coalition and Green Oklahoma at the county fair. Here is a picture from the fair.
Hopefully I will be back to posting more this weekend. And for those not on the fan page, mark your calendars for September 25th, I will be hosting a End of Summer Green Bash on Twitter. I will be giving more info on that this coming week, so be watching for it.
